Gold-saving apparatus



(No Model.)

i -B. M. WHITING.-

'GOLD SAVING APPARATUS.

Patented Apt- 9, 1895.

Utvrrnn STATES PATE T Erica.

BARNET M. WHITING, OF SPOKANE, WASHINGTON.

GOLD-SAVING APPARATUS.

$PECIFTCATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 537,257 dated April 9, 1895.

Application filed November 12, 1894- fierial No. 523,486 (No model) To mil whom it may concern.-

I 3e it known'that I, BARNET M. WHITING, a citizen of the United States, residing at Spokane, county of Spokane, State of Washington, have invented an Improvement in Gold- Saving Apparatus; and I hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the same.

My invention relates to an apparatus which is especially designed for saving fine gold found in placer mining,- or in connection with pulp or tailings, or other waste matter.

It consists in certain details of construction, which will be more fully explained by reference to the accompanying drawings, in which- Figure 1 is a side sectional elevation of my apparatus. Fig. 2 is a rear end view, the hopper being removed. Fig. 3 is a front end view. Fig. 4 shows the construction of the riffies.

A is a drum made of sheet iron or steel and having the shape of a frustum of a cone, and

Bis a cylindrical tube of smaller diameter than the smallest end of the drum A, and of: a length which allows it to extend through the drum and project at both ends.

The rear end of the drum A is closed and A the tube B extends through it and is supported upon hard rubber or other suitable anti-frictional rollers G which are fixed to supporting frameD. V

The end of the tube 13 which extends beyond the smaller end of the cone is supported in like manner by anti-frictional rollers, and has a collar B to prevent its sliding forward. This end of the tube is held in the center of the smaller end of the cone by arms or sprockets E fixed to the tube and the end of the cone as shown, and this end of the cone has an inwardly turned flange which partially closes it but leaves an annular passage between it and the outside of the tube B. This tube B is perforated with holes which may be from three-eighths to three-fourths of an inch in diameter, the perforated portion being within the drum or cone A.

F is a hopper having a tubular extension of somewhat smaller diameter than the interior of the tube B so that it may extend into the upper end of the tube and as the hopper is supported upon the frame-work by suitable braces G the tube B is allowed to rotate freely.

around the entering end of the tube from the hopper.

Upon the tube B is fixed a light gear-wheel Hby means'of a flange which is cast or formed with it, of such diameter as to allow it to be riveted upon the outside of the tube.

,1 is another gear-wheel suitably jourual'ed upon the frame-work, the teeth of which gear engage with those of the gear H, and by means of the pulley or other suitable device power is imparted to thegear-shaft and the gear, the tube and the drum are caused to rotate.

The position of the tube and drum is such that the bottom of the drum is nearly or quite level, and a quantity caping by the closed rear end of the drum and the flange which surrounds the smaller end, as well as by the swell or curvature of the drum in the intermediate portion.

The material from which the gold is tobe sep arated is placed in the hopper and delivered therefrom to the interior of the tube 13, and as the, apparatus is rotated the material gradually moves down the tube, the finer portion with contained gold sifting through the openings, while the coarser gravel and other material pass down the tube B as it rotates, and are finally discharged at the lower end of the tube.

The material which passes through the perforations in the tube falls into the mercury which lies in the bottom of the drum A and the rotation of the drum agitates the material in contact with the mercury, so that a large portion of the gold will be taken up and amalgamated at this point. The surplus and waste flow over the flange at the small end of the cone, through the annular channel between it and the drum B and fall upon the inclined copper plate K having riffies extending from end to end thereof as shown at L.

In constructing this portion of the apparatus, the bottom may be made of Wood or other suitable material lined with light sheet iron and having the riffies formed as shown. The copper plates are then out just to fit the bottom and the upper end of the plate is bent so as to hook over the projection of the riffie as shown at L, and this holds it in place and at the same time enables me to remove the plates to be cleaned from time to time when of mercury is placed upon this bottom, being prevented from es' desired. From the lower end of this riflle the material is discharged upon a second similarly constructed riffie O which declines beneath the first named riffle so that the waste and worthless material, after passing over these riflies, are discharged at the lower end near the point where the larger material has been first discharged from the tube B.

The apparatus is easily dismounted by lifting the smaller end of the tube, drawing it forward until it is clear and then lifting and the drum out of the frame.

The upper riffle is, in the same manner, lifted oh its supports so that access is easily had to the lower one for the purpose of cleaning. 7

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. An apparatus for separating gold from worthless material consisting of a tube into which the material is fed, having its lower end open for the discharge of the worthless material, with perforations made through the drum through which the finer portion of the material passes and thereby separates from the coarser material, a conical inclosing drum fixed to and revoluble with the tube, bearings upon which the tube is supported and revoluble at an inclination whereby the material passes through the same by gravitation, while the lower side of the drum is in an approximately horizontal position, a flange at the discharge end of the drum whereby a body of mercury may be contained Within the drum, and an annular space formed be tween the flange and the inner tube for the discharge of the material, inclined riffles upon which the discharge is received, said riilles having mercury containing pockets at intervals along their length as described.

2. A gold saving apparatus consisting of an inclined perforated revoluble tube having a cone-shaped drum fixed coneentricallyand exterior to it with its lower surface horizonit tal and adapted to contain a body of mercury,

said tube extending through the tube and projecting beyond the lower end thereof, having said projecting end open for the discharge of the coarser material, and having perforations through which the liner material passes to the drum means for feeding the material. to be acted upon to the interior of the tube, means for rotating the tube and drum, riiiles situated beneath the drum and adapted to receive the discharge therefrom, said riilles consisting of a bottom having a sheet iron lining with pockets at intervals over which the end of the lining projects, and removable copper plates fitted upon the bottom having the upper ends bent into hook form adapted to engage the projecting edges whereby they are rernovably held in place.

In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand.

BARNET M. WHITING. Witnesses:

JNo. A. PIERCE, JEROME A. CROWLEY. 

